1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:18–21

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^b

²⁰Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Footnotes

b 1:19 Isaiah 29:14|ISA 29:14(see also LXX)

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Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Corinthians 1:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
the	Ὁ	Ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
message	λόγος	logos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
of the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
cross	σταυροῦ	staurou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G4716 a cross
is	ἐστίν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
foolishness	μωρία	mōria	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3472 folly, absurdity
to those who	τοῖς	tois	Article - Dative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
are perishing	ἀπολλυμένοις	apollymenois	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural	G622 I destroy, lose, am perishing
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
to us who	ἡμῖν	hēmin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
are being saved	σῳζομένοις	sōzomenois	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural	G4982 I save, heal
it is	ἐστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
power	δύναμις	dynamis	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1411 might, power, marvelous works
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god

1 Corinthians 1:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γάρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
it is written	γέγραπται	gegraptai	Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1125 I write
I will destroy	Ἀπολῶ	Apolō	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G622 I destroy, lose, am perishing
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
wisdom	σοφίαν	sophian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
of the	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
wise	σοφῶν	sophōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4680 wise
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
intelligence	σύνεσιν	synesin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4907 understanding
of the	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
intelligent	συνετῶν	synetōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4908 intelligent, prudent, wise
I will frustrate	ἀθετήσω	athetēsō	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular	G114 I annul

1 Corinthians 1:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Where	Ποῦ	Pou	Adverb	G4226 where, whither
wise	σοφός	sophos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4680 wise
Where	ποῦ	pou	Adverb	G4226 where, whither
scribe	γραμματεύς	grammateus	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1122 a scribe, town-clerk, man of learning
Where	ποῦ	pou	Adverb	G4226 where, whither
philosopher	συζητητὴς	syzētētēs	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4804 a disputer
of this	τούτου	toutou	Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
age	αἰῶνος	aiōnos	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G165 an age, a cycle of time
not	οὐχὶ	ouchi	IntPrtcl	G3780 by no means, not at all
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
made foolish	ἐμώρανεν	emōranen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3471 I make foolish, taint, make useless
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
wisdom	σοφίαν	sophian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
of the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
world	κόσμου	kosmou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe

1 Corinthians 1:21

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
since	ἐπειδὴ	epeidē	Conjunction	G1894 when, since
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
the	τῇ	tē	Article - Dative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
wisdom	σοφίᾳ	sophia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
world	κόσμος	kosmos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe
through	διὰ	dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
wisdom	σοφίας	sophias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
not	οὐκ	ouk	Adverb	G3756 no, not
know	ἔγνω	egnō	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
was pleased	εὐδόκησεν	eudokēsen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2106 I am resolved, well-pleased
through	διὰ	dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
the	τῆς	tēs	Article - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3588 the
foolishness	μωρίας	mōrias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3472 folly, absurdity
of what	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
was preached	κηρύγματος	kērygmatos	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G2782 a proclamation, preaching
to save	σῶσαι	sōsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G4982 I save, heal
those who	τοὺς	tous	Article - Accusative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
believe	πιστεύοντας	pisteuontas	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural	G4100 I believe, have faith in